MALDIVES
The National Museum houses exhibits of the sultans' belongings and some archaeological discoveries, while the nearby Sultan Park is a pleasant place for a stroll. The imposing white three- storey Islamic Centre & Grand Friday Mosque holds more than 5000 worshippers and dominates the city's skyline. The oldest of the 20-plus mosques in Malé is the Hukuru Miskiiy, famed for its intricate stone carvings.
Friday Mosque on Isdhoo is more than three centuries old and features lacquered supports, flowing calligraphy and finely carved rafters. Gadhdhoo is home to one of the Maldives' most impressive ruins,
from which rises an enormous stupenda, formerly a huge, white limestone pyramid.
The solitary and exceptionally fertile island of Fuamulaku produces vegetables and fruits such as mangoes, oranges and pineapples, which are not grown anywhere else in the country. Baa Atoll is famous for its handicrafts, which include lacquer work and finely woven cotton felis (traditional sarongs).
Where to stay The wide variety of accommodation ranges from island resorts and hotels to modern, motel-style rooms and guesthouses, with more on offer in the high-end range. Hotel rates usually include full board. There are also yachts and yacht-dhonis, specially converted Maldivian vessels licensed to sleep guests.
Developed on uninhabited islands, some exclusive hotels accommodate a limited number of guests while some cater more or less exclusively to certain nationalities, notably Italian, German, French and Japanese visitors. Note that some resorts have better access to specific dive sites, local villages, or Malé
116 www.paradisesonline.com
